Twenty-one members of the Aam Aadmi Party were detained by Delhi Police on Monday night for attempting to hold a candlelight march at India Gate, demanding a “detailed investigation” into the death of RTI activist and AAP member Chandra Mohan Sharma in Greater Noida.

Sharma was killed after his car burst into flames while he was on his way back home. His family has named five persons in a murder complaint, alleging that Sharma was killed because of his work in cases related to land.

Senior officers of Delhi Police said that the AAP did not have permission to hold the march at India Gate and when members persisted, they were detained.

“Twenty-one members have been detained by us. There was no permission for a protest at India Gate,” SBS Tyagi, DCP (New Delhi), said.

In a statement issued earlier, the AAP had come out in support of Sharma’s family, hitting out at the Noida Police for failing to act appropriately.

“The party is shocked at police reluctance to investigate the case, particularly given the fact that the activist had given a written complaint to police on April 29 about the threats to his life, which he was receiving from the land mafia,” the statement said.

It further stated, “The AAP demands that the state government seek an immediate report from the district administration about the entire facts of the case and police pulled up for their laxity in first ignoring the complaint given by Sharma and now their extreme reluctance in investigating the case. The family of Sharma has clearly named those behind his murder and the police version that the death took place due to his car catching fire lacks credibility.”

Senior police officers of Noida Police the five accused were still absconding and that “the charge of murder is being investigated with all seriousness”. A team from FSL, Agra, has also been called in to inspect Sharma’s vehicle to ascertain if there was any foul play.